Container capping machine



Oct. 30, 1934. J. J. GAYNOR CONTAINER CAPPING MACHINE Filed Aug) 8, 19534 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 30, 1934 J. J. GAYNOR CONTAINER CAPPING MACHINEFiled Aug. 8, I933 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 30, 1934 CONTAINERCAPPING MACHINE John J. Gaynor, Delphi, Ind., assignor of onehalf toArthur I. Kisser, Chicago, 111.

Application August 8, 1933, Serial No. 684,236

19 Claims.

This invention relates to container capping machines, and-moreparticularly pertains to bottle crowners as employed in association withcontainer or bottle fillingmachines.

The type of filling machine in connection with which the capping machineof the invention is of especial utility, is that having means forconstantly conveying containers in uniform single order in closearrangement, and wherein the mavl-Q chine has means for filling saidcontainers as they are being conveyed, and wherein both the filling andcapping machines are adapted to be driven by power means common to both.One object of the invention is to provide such a capping machine withtwo alternately operated capping heads and means for transferringcontainers from the conveying means of the filling machine and placingthem alternately into cooperative relation with the capping heads to bealternately capped thereby, and having operating. mechanism so arrangedforbalanced action that enables an increased output of the machinesWithout transmitting any jarring or vibratory action to the fillingmachine by the intermittent capping of the containers.

Another. object of the invention is to provide such a machine asoutlined which enables close uniformity of caps as applied to thebottles capped by the separate heads.

Although the capping machine is of especial utility in connection withfilling machines as stated, the invention is not to be so limitedbecause the balanced action of the machine is of advantage in themachineitself in expediting the capping of containers and in prolonging theeffectiveness of the machine.

Other objects. and advantages will become apparent by reference to thespecification, claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a small diagrammatic view illustrating, the capping machine ofthe invention as applied to a common type .of container filling machineof the rotaryclass, and as looking toward the side of the cappingmachine.

Fig. 2 is a front view of. the capping machine showing a portion of thefilling machine, with parts broken away, and the view being of largerscale than Fig. 1.v

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the machine, the 59- view being takensubstantially on the section line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken substantially on thesection line 44of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a plan section of a portion of Fig. 3; the view being takensubstantially on the sec;-

tion line 5-5 of said figure and arranged at right angle to the positionit would occupy as indicated by the section line.

Fig- 6 is a section ofa portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2 asindicated by the section line 6- 6 of said'figure.

Fig. 'Tis a plan section taken substantially on the section line 7-7 ofFig. 2, the view being of larger scale than Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan section of Fig. 2, and taken substantiallyonthesection line 88 of said figure.

Fig. 9 is, an enlarged plan section of Fig. 2, taken on the section line99 of said figure, and showing a portion of the filling machine.

. Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion of the mechanism shown inFig. '7 with parts in changed position and parts being broken away.

Fig. 11 is a section taken on the section line 11--11 of Fig. 10.

,Fig. 12 is a vertical section of one of thecapping heads, the viewbeing taken substantially on the section line 12-12 of Fig. 2, withparts omitted and parts broken away.

Fig. 13 isa vertical section taken substantially 30 on. the irregularsection line 13-43 of the Fig. 12 with certain parts omitted.

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13 with parts in changed position andother parts shown in sectionwith added parts.

Fig. 15 is a plan view of a portion of the parts shown in Fig. 13. s

Fig. 16 is an enlarged .view of a portion of Fig. 5, and also comprisinga plan section of Fig. 12, but arranged at right angle thereto, and astaken substantially on the section line 16-16 of Fig. 12.

Referring to Fig. 1, the filling machine A, somewhat diagrammaticallyillustrated, is of the well known type, in the rotary class. The machinecomprises a circular filling tank 2 mounted on a central pedestalsupport 3 rotatably mounted in a suitable manner concentric with thetank, on the base support 4. Arranged equally spaced about thevaxis ofthe tank and depending from the edge thereof, are vertically re- 1ciprocable filling heads 5 which are adapted to dispense liquid from thetank upon being raised therein. The filling machine has means forconveying containers or bottles under the filling heads in cooperativerelation therewith. Said conveying means includes a plurality ofvertically disposed hollow plungers 6 equally spaced about the pedestalaxis so that each plunger is below a filling head and central therewith.The plungers 5 are reciprocably mounted in bearings '7 1n bottles areplaced in the stirrups by automatic means, not shown, and at which pointthe plunge ers are in lowered position. The plungers are then moved toraised position, causing the bottles to enter and raise the fillingheads, in which position they remain during considerable movement of themachine to effect the filling of the bottles. The filled bottles arethen lowered by the plungers before reaching the bottle receivingstation, and are then transferred to the capping machine embodying theinvention. It may be mentioned that the plungers are operated by acircular cam track 12 on the base support, which is engaged by rollers14 on the levers 15 radiating from the pedestal on which they arepivotally connected, and whose other ends are pivotally connectedthrough the intermediation of the connecting rods l6 to the plungers.

After the plungers 6 reach their lowered position, the filled bottlesthereon are transferred or deflected sharply outward radially of thefilling machine between the spaced curved ends and 21 of spaced bottleguide rails 22 and 23, and onto a container support 24 in the form of atable whose top surface is in the plane of the bottoms of the stirrups.Upon being placed on the table, the bottles are engaged by ahorizontally disposed oscillating arm 25 which deflects the bottles inopposite directions alternately to position same at locations indicatedby the crosses C and D on opposite sides of theaxis of oscil= lation ofthe bottle positioning arm, as shown in Fig.9. The station at which thebottles are initially placed on the table is directly between the axesof the filling machine and the bottle positioning arm, as indicated bythe dot and dash line EE on Fig 9. For coop'erating with the arm 25 inpositioning the bottles at said locations, the guide rails 22 and 23 areoppositely arcuately formed about the axis of oscillation of the arm, asat 28'and 2'7 respectively, and which portions extend from theirrespective curved ends 29 and 21, inward toward the axis of oscilla-vtion of the arm. The arm has a small hub portion 28 which is suitablymounted on the top end of a vertical shaft 29, rotatably mounted in abearing 30 in the table. The arm hub portion has spaced end flangeportions 31 from which extend spaced parallel reduced upper and lowerarm portions 32 to form the bottle positioning pockets 33 and 34 onopposite sides of the arm for positivelylocating the bottles at eitherof the capping locations C and D, at the limits of movement of the arm,in one position of which the arm is shown in dot and dash lines in Fig.9.

Spaced above the table and'on opposite sides of. the axis of the shaft,are two capping heads 35 and 36'arranged tobe. in cooperative reationrespectively with the pockets and 34 or" the arm, when same is at eitherof its limits of oscillation, for capping the bottles alternatelypositionedby the arm. I

- succeeding bottles to be capped are positioned for capping, the cappedbottles are ejected from under their respective capping heads by beingengaged by the ends of outwardly spring pressed pawls 3i and 38 whichextend from opposite sides of the arm. On the return stroke of the armfrom either of its limits of movement, the pawls are caused to recede byriding over the positioned bottles. The purpose of the pawls to preventthe bottles from bumping which grea ly eliminates breakage. The pawlshave spaced bearing portions 39 which are hinged to a vertical pin 40 atthe end of the arm 25 and extending between its arm portions. A coilspring 41 surrounds the pin with its ends connected to opposed bearingsof the pat" s for resiliently urging the pawls outward to positionsdetermined by a projection 42 on one of the bearings of each pawlengaging the end portion 43 of the arm which joins the arm portions.

As the bottles are ejected they are directed in separate rows on thetable, which are formed by the parallel end portions 44 and 45 of theguide rails 22 ard 23 respectively, and between which end portionsextends a partition 46 mounted on the table. The bottles capped may betaken from the table by hand or the upper stretch of a conveyor belt maybe positioned alongside the table to convey the bottles therefrom.

The table is mounted on two vertically positioned uprights 47 and 41.8in the form of she-fling rods which are secured at their bottom ends toal 41.9 which is mounted on the base of g machine, and the top enrs ofthe uprights are connected by the brace 50.

The shaft 29 on which the bottle positioning arm is mount d, isrotatably mounted at its lower end in a he 51 on the top of the pedestaland which st is in operable connection with the filling machine foroscillating the arm in timed relation therewith. To this end the shaft29 has a crank arm 52, relcasably secured thereto in a manner laterdescribed, which arm is piv-- otally connected at free end to aconnecting link 53, whose other end is pivotaly connected to a crank 54mounted on the low-er end of power shaft 55 extending upward through andkey connection with the hub portion 56 of a spur gear 57, which hubportion is rotatably mounted in a bearing 58 in the table. Mesh ng withthe gear 57 a spur gear 59 in slidable key connection with a verticalshaft 60 rotatably mounted in a bearing 61 in the table top, the gearbeing held positioned between the bottom end of the bearing and asupport plate 62 suitably mounte on'the table, and through which theshaft extends. Meshing with the gear 59 is a spur gear 63 rotatablymounted on a stub shaft 6 depending from the table. Rotatably mounted onthe stub shaft and connected with the gear 63 is another smaller spurgear 65 which meshes with a ring spur gear 66 mounted on the peripheryof the lateral circu ar extension of the filling machine, which ringgear serves as a connection with driving means, not shown. The gears,crank arms and bottle positioning arm are so proportioned and timed,that as the bottles are transferred onto the table, they are carried totheir positions or locations to be capped alternately. The crank arm 52is releasably connected on the shaft 29 by means of an arm extension 6'?of the crank on which is mounted a spring pressed pin 68 whose inner endis conically formed to in the conical recess 69 in the side of a collarTi) secured to the shaft, said crank arm being loose on the shaft andheld between said collar a collar '21 on the shaft; Thus in the event abottle "iii becomes jammed between the positioning arm and the guiderails, the spring pressed pin is disengaged from the collar 70, wherebythe crank arm becomes loose on the shaft, to prevent breaking thebottle.

The capping heads and 36 mentioned briefly in the foregoing will now bedescribed. Each capping head comprises a hollow cylindrical plunger 72,vertically disposed above the table, both plungers being positioned onopposite sides of the center line of the shaft 29 and arranged to becoaxial with the bottles positioned on the table. Each plunger extendsthrough and is reciprocably mountedin a bearing bore 73 in thehorizontal elongated support 74 securedat its ends to the lower ends oftwo sleeves 75" and 76 which are re spectively mounted for adjustment;on the uprights 47 and 48. Ac'rossthe top end of each plunger is astrike plate 77 which has a plug formation 78 threaded into the end ofthe plunger. Extending upward from the support 74 and alongside of eachplunger 72, is a guide bar 79 engaged on its side by the straight edgeportion 80 of the strike plate on the plunger for preventing the plungerfrom turning in its bearing, the guide bars being arranged in spacedrelation between the plungers.

Near'the bottom end of each plunger is a cap receiving recess 81 forpositioning a cap 82, of the well known bottle stopper type, centralwith the axis of the plunger with its open side facing downward. Therecess of each plunger has an inlet opening 83 extending forward of themachine in converging direction relation with the recess of the otherplunger. Each plunger is so operated that upon the positioning of abottle thereunder, it is held in raised position with its recess openingin register or cooperative relation with a cap directing element 84 inthe form of a gravity feed cap magazine, being oscillatably mounted andcontaining a supplyof crowns in uniform single order, and Whosedischarge end 85 is in register with said opening for feedinga cap orcrown therein.

Upon the return movement, of the bottle posi- .tioning arm after havingpositioned a bottle on the table, the capping head plunger over thebottle has been initially lowered over the bottle, the neck of thebottle entering the plunger through. its outwardly flared bottom opening86 and engaging the cap so that the peripheral bead 87 about the bottlemouth is surrounded by the flared inwardly beaded skirt 88 ofthe cap. As

the, plunger is lowered further, the cap skirt becomes engaged withinthe conical bore portion 89 of the constricting ring or collar 90secured in the plunger above the recess and which effects theconstriction of the cap skirt about the bead at the end of the bottleneck as the plunger is resiliently forced downward by means laterdescribed. As the cap is about to enter the constricting ring, itengages a spring pressed plunger head 91 slidably mounted in the ringwhich holds the cap squarewith the bottle mouth, and which also effectsejection of the bottle from the capping head plunger. The ejectingplunger head has a stem 92 extending upward into a bearing in the plugportion'of the strike plate, and a coil compression spring 93 surroundsthe stem and is interposed between, the plug portion and the plungerhead which is thereby normally resiliently held in lowered position,with its bottom.

end forming the top Wall of the cap recess, by the annular shoulder 94of the headengaging the top of the constricting ring.

The cap magazine is in the form of a closedsided chute with the crownsguided therein in edgewise uniform single order, and the chute beingarcuately formedwith a'top end vertical'portion 95, at which end itis-pivotally mounted for horizontal oscillatable movement, as at 96, tothe bottom discharge end 97 of a cap feeding device 98 mounted on thehorizontal support 99 whose ends aremounted on the top ends of thesleeves 7.5, 76', and which support is arranged spaced above the support74. The chute extends arcuately downward and inward to terminate in thehorizontal discharge end portion 85 which is maintained in the plane ofthe recesses of the capping heads when same are in raisedposition,

and which end isreceived, to be guided, in an arcuate groove 100 in thesupport 74, and which groove is concentric with the pivotal connectionof the chute. The groove is intersected'at its bottom arcuate wall 101by the bearing bores of the capping head plungers to form openings 102in the groove which register with the openings of the recesses of theplungers respectively, when the plungers are in raised position.

The magazine is continuously oscillated so'that its discharge end isalternately brought into register with the openingsin the groove 100when the capping head plungers "are held in raised position with theirrecesses in register with said openings. At the discharge end of themagazine are formed side wall extensions 103 which are permitted closeregistration with the openings in the groove in efiectively guiding acap into one of the recesses, because, as the magazine is returned frompositioning a cap, the extension 103 of the trailing side passes throughthe opening ofthe Ice recess in which thecap has been positioned. The

bottom wall 1010f the groove also'serves to hold the capsin the magazinewhen same is out of cooperative relation with the capping heads.

It will be understood, by reference to Figs. 2 and 3, that at theneutral position of the magazine, its inlet end is in register with thedischarge end 97' of the cap feeding device; j 1 i The feeding devicehas a horizontal centrally located operating shaft 104 which is indriven connection with the vertical shaft 60 which extends upward fromthe table and through a bearing 105 in the lower support 74, to bereceived rotatable in a bearing 106 extending through the upper support99. The top end or" the shaft 60 is suitably connected with the shaft104 to'drive same through the intermediation of gearing. 107 and thesprocket chain and gear mechanism 108;

Means for operating the capping heads and the magazine will now bedescribed. Extending crosswise over the lower support 74 in spacedrelation are two similar stub shafts 109 and 110 respectively mounted inspaced bearings 11l111 and 112-112 on the support, and between which 7""shafts, the capping head plun ers are positioned and arranged so thatwhen in raised position,

thetops of the striking plates are slightly below .the horizontal planeof the shafts. Mounted respectively intermittently connected with thecap ping head plungers of the heads 35 and 36, dur- .1

ing alternate oscillation "of the levers, whereby the heads areintermittently reciprocated. To

this end, each lever has a pin 115, extending horizontal, on which ismounted a roller 116 which, upon oscillation of its lever downward, is

caused to engage the strike plate of'its respective plunger to lowersame over a bottle. The plungers are each held in raised position by alocking device including a pawl 11'? which is pivotally mounted on ahorizontal pin 118 extending through the strike plate and the slot 119therein in which the pawl is confined for movement in a vertical plane,and which pawl nor mally projects upward into a hook formation 120 whichis spring pressed into engagement with the top end of the guide baradjacent the plunger, said end comprising thestop 121. For urging thepawl into engagement with the stop, the pawl has a lateral right-angularextension 122 received in the recess 123 in the top'of the strike plate.The recess is bored out as at 124 to receive a compression spring 125whose top end engages the under side of the pawl extension inresiliently holding the pawl engaged with the stop and with itsextension slightly extended over the strike plate. Thus, as an operatinglever is lowered to engage its respective plunger, its roller firstengages the extension of the pawl thereof and rocks same out ofengagement with the stop, whereupon the plunger is free to be moveddownward upon continued movement of the lever. To positively operablyconnect the plunger with the lever, so that it will be raised by thelever, the pawl has a hook formation 126 on its side opposite the hook 19, and which, when moved toward the roller on the release of the pawl,engages over a projection 12? extending from the enlarged end 128 of theroller pin of the lever. During reciprocation of a plunger, the pawlthereof is held released from the guide bar by the hook formation 120being engaged on its end 129 by the bar, as best seen in Fig. 14. Thusas a lever reaches about its neutral position on its tippawl becomesdisengaged from the projection 12'? of the roller pin end. By reason ofthe construction just described, the continuously oscillating operatinglevers effect the positive intermittent reciprocation of theirrespective plungers in alternation.

Extending upward. from hub portions 130 and 181 of the levers 113 and114 respectively, are arm extensions 132 and 183 respec 'vely arrangedat substantially right angles to said levers, and whose top ends arepivotally connectedas at 134134, to a horizontal link 135 whichmaintains the arm extensions in parallelism so that the levers mayoscillate alternately.

For resiliently operating the levers, the power shaft 55 has an upwardextension 136 adjustably connected therewith just above the table foraxial and angular adjustment, by a coupling device 137. Said shaftextension passes through a bearing 133 in the lower support 74 and isrotatably mounted in a bearing 139 of a bracket 140 mounted on thesleeve '76 on the upright 48, and at the top end of the shaft above thebracket is a driving element 141, in the form of a crank arm, whose freeend is in pivotal connection, by means of the crank pin 1 12 thereon, towhich is fulcrumed the loosely pivoted block member 143 of the yoke-144of the universal coupling 1 15, to one end of a resilient link element146 whose other end is in connection with the yoke member 147 of theuniversal coupling 148 connecting the extending forked end 1 19 of thelink 135.

The crank arm 141 also serves to oscillate the magazine, wherein thecrank pin of the arm is pivotally connected to one end of a link 150whose other end is pivotally connected to the top end of a rocker arm151, as at 152, and which arm is centrally pivoted, as on the pin 153,to the bracket 140. The lower end of the rocker arm is pivotallyconnected, as at 154, to one end of a link whose other end is in pivotalconnection to the top of the bottom portion of the magazine, as at 156.The crank arms of the power shaft and its extension are so angularlyarranged that slightly prior to the return movement of the bottlepositioning arm, after having positioned a bottle, as seen in Fig. 9, inwhich position the arm is shown in dotted lines, the capping head overthe bottle is lowered to cap same, at which. time the other capping headis held stationary in raised position with the magazine in position withits discharge end in register with the cap recess of said head, wherebya cap is supplied thereto, as seen in Fig. 2.

It will be seen that the operating levers and their arm extensionscounter-balance each other during their operation, and the fact thateach capping head plunger is positively raised by its operating lever,thus adding its weight to the lever instead of being raised by springmeans, maintains substantially an even load on the power shaft with reintermittent load put on the shaft by the intermittent capping of thebottles. By the capping mechanism being so balanced, no jarring actionis transmitted. to the filling machine by the capping of the bottles,which would otherwise cause the dispositioning of the bottles on theconveying means of the filling machine with respect to the filling headsprior to the insertion of the bottles in the heads. This enablesspeeding up the operation of both the filling and capping machineswithout subjecting either machine to any great amount of wear to theirmechanisms, and which also enables an increased output of both machines.

Referring to Figs. 2, 7, 10 and 11, the resilient link 1 16 includesrespectively inner and outer tubular telescoping sections 157 and 158,having limited slidable movement with respect to each other by means oftwo opposed pins l59-159 mounted in the outer tube section and whichpins pass through elongated slots 160-150, respectively, in the innertube section. Threaded into the outer end of the inner tube is athreaded collar 161 through which is slidable a rod 162 i which extendsinto the tube to normally engage at its free end with the plug 163secured in the inner end of the tube. The outer end of the rod is inthreaded connection with the yoke member 1a? of the coupling 1 13 andlocked thereto by the nut 15% on the rod. In the outer end of the outertube is a plug 165 secured thereto, which plug a threaded extension 166in threaded connection with the yoke member 144 of the universalcoupling 14.5, and locked thereto by means of the nut 157. Disposed inthe inner tube is a compression spring 168 which surrounds the rod, withone end engaging the collar and the. other end engaging the pins 159-159which project into the inner tube. At the inner end of the red are twoopposed pins 169--169 which are also engaged by the end of. the springwhich engages the pins 159-452. Thus the tube sections are resilientlyheld in extended relation, in which position they are urged by thespring under stress, and likewise the inner tube section and the rod areheld in retracted relation.

The resilient link is so arranged that when the operating crank arm 141is in dead center relation with the link and extending away therefrom in(iii causing the operation of the capping head 36, as

seen in Fig. '2, and Fig. 7, the pressure exerted on the head inconstricting the cap skirt, is taken up in the spring bythe compressionthereof, which is'caused by the extension of the inner tube section androd assembly, the amount of said extension being indicated by the space170 existing between the inner end of the rod and the plug 163 at theinner end of theinner tube, as shown in head in causing the constrictionof the cap skirt is also taken up in the spring by the compressionthereof, which is caused by the contraction of the tube sections anamount equal to the amount the inner tube and the rod are extended, asseen in Fig. 7.

The resilient link may be said to be resiliently locked in a neutrallength, from which it is capable of extension or contraction by thesamestressing action of a single spring. This construction promotesuniformity of caps as applied to the bottles by both heads. The coupling137 between the power shaft and its shaft extension, includes a sleeveportion 171 in which the lower end of the shaft extension is slidablyreceived and which has a key 172 received in the keyway 173 in the shaftto rotatesame. -At the bottom end of the sleeve is a lateral flange 174connecting with the flange 175 at'the top of the gear hub 56, by meansof the elongatedarcuate slot and bolt connections 176176--'176 therebetween. By virtue of the coupling the capping mechanism may be adjustedin timer-elation with the bottle positioning mechanism, by changing theangularity of the power shaft and its extension, made possible by theslot and bolt connections 176. V

The connected horizontal upper and lower support members 99 and 74carrying the cap feeding and capping head mechanisms, are adjustedvertically on the uprights, to accommodate bottles of various height, bymeans of two vertical screw shafts 177-177, each shaft extendingalongside of an upright and rotatably mountedat its top end in a bearing178 at each-end of the strut.

Each screw shaft is inthreaded connection at its lower end in a threadedboss 179 on each end of the upper support member, and is operablyconnected, through the intermediation of the bevel gear connections 180,to a horizontal shaft 181 extending over the strut and rotatably mountedin spaced bearings 182 thereon. To facilitate the adjustment of saidmechanisms, a hand crank 183 is provided on one end of the shaft 181.

I'he invention constitutes a further development or improvement on thestructure of my Patent No. 1,958,476, of May 15, 1934, relating to Capapplying machines, in which patent'certain organizations of thestructure herein disclosed, such as the resilient capping head drivingmeans and the cap feeding means, are broadly disclosed and broadlyclaimed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a container capping machine, two reciprocably mounted cappingheads each having means for positioning a cap and being adapted to applythe cap upon the reciprocation thereof, means for reciprocating theheads in alternation so that one head is held stationary during thereciprocation of the other head, and cap feeding means mounted to bemovable, being operably connected with the heads and arranged to bebrought into cooperative "relation-withthe cap positioning meansofthe-heads when same are held stationary. 1

2. In a container capping machine, two reciprccably mounted cappingheads each having means for positioning a cap and being adapted to applythe capupon the reciprocation thereof, means for reciprocating the headsin alternation so thateach head is held stationary at an inter--' val orthe cycle of operation of the other head; and cap feeding means mountedmovable back and forth-in a fixed path and operably connected with theheads and arranged whereby it is brought into cooperative relation witheach head cap positioning means when same is held sta'-- tionary.

i 3. In a container capping machine, two recip-' rocably mounted cappingheads each having means for positioning a'cap and being adapted toapplythe cap upon the reciprocation thereof," means for reciprocatingthe heads in alternation so that one head is held from reciprocating atan interval'of the cycle of operation of the other head, and means forfeeding caps, said heads and feeding means mounted and arranged to haverelative movement whereby said means brought back-and forth intocooperative relation with the cap positioning means of the heads 0ciprccably mounted capping heads each having when same-are held fromreciprocating.

l. Ina container capping machine, two rea recess for receiving a cap andbeing adaptedto apply the cap upon the reciprocation thereof, means forreciprocating the heads in alternation so that one'head is held fromreciprocating at'ari interval of the cycle of operation of the otherhead, and a pivotally' mounted gravity feed cap magazine having adischarge end and operably connected with theheads and arranged wherebyit oscillates so that the discharge end is brought alternately in tocooperative relation with the re cesses of the heads when same are held.

5. In a container capping machine, two cap ping heads mountedreciprocable vertically, a continuously oscillating lever for operatingeach head, the levers being operably connected to oscillate alternately,releasable locking means for holding each head in raised positionymeansoperative at a certain interval of a cycle of operation of the leversfor effecting a positive operable conheads and causing the'releaseoilocking means whereby the heads are intermittently reciprocatnation oftwo reciprocably mounted capping heads each having means for applying acap to a container upon pressure engagement therewith when reciprocated,a driven element mounted movable back and forth in a given path andoperably connected with the heads to alternately reciprocate same uponits said movement, a driving element movable back and forth, andresilient linkage operably connecting said elements, where-'- in saidlinkage includes a spring and means 125. nection between the levers andtheir respective whereby. motion is transmitted from the driving elementto the drivenelement in both directions of its movement through thestressing of the spring in one manner of operation.

8. In a container capping machine, the combination of two reciprocablymounted capping heads each having means for applying a cap to acontainer upon pressure engagement therewith when reciprocated, a drivenelement mounted movable back and forth in a given path and operablyconnected with the heads to alternately reciprocate same upon its saidmovement, a driving element movable back and forth, and resilientlinkage operably connecting said elements, wherein said linkage includesa spring, and means whereby said elements are normally operablyconnected through the spring under stress and permitting independentmovement of either of said elements in either directions of theirmovement and at any interval of their cycle of operation throughincreased stressing of the spring in one manner of operation.

9. In combination in a capping machine, capping mechanism, operatingmechanism adapted to have intermittent cooperative connection with thecapping mechanism, a locking device associated with the cappingmechanism normally operative to hold said mechanism inoperative andbeing controlled by the operating mechanism vupon its connection withthe capping mechanism for eirecting its release in rendering the cappingmechanism operative.

10. The structure as defined in claim 9, including means associated withthe operating means and the locking device operable upon the release ofthe device for completing the operable connection between the applyingand operating mechanisms.

11. In combination in a capping machine, an

operated cap applying element, an operating eleof the holding elementfor completing the cdoperative connection between the applying andoperating elements.

13. In a container capping machine, two capping heads, and means forretaining a supply of caps to be fed mounted movable back and forthbetween fixed limits, said heads and means arranged whereby at eachlimit of its movement the means is brought into and out of cooperativerelation with a separate head.

14. In a container capping machine, two capping heads, and a cap supplymagazine mounted movable back and forth between fixed limits, said headsand magazine arranged whereby at each limit of its movement the magazineis brought into and out of cooperative relation with a separate head.

15. In a container capping machine, two capping heads mounted operablyat separate fixed locations, and means for retaining a supply of caps tobe fed mounted movable back and forth between fixed limits, said meansarranged whereby upon its movement it is brought into and out ofcooperative relation with a separate head at each limit of its movement.

16. In a container capping machine, two capping heads mounted operablyat fixed locations, and a cap supply magazine mounted movable back andforth between fixed limits and arranged whereby at each limit of itsmovement it is in cap supplying relation with a separate head.

1'7. In a container capping machine, two capping heads mounted movablein separate fixed paths, and means for retaining a supply of caps to befed mounted movable back and forth between fixed limits and arrangedwhereby at each limit of its movement it is in cooperative relation witha separate head.

18. The structure as defined in claim 17, including means for holdingthe heads stationary when in cooperative relation with said capretaining means.

19. In a container capping machine, two movably mounted capping heads,each head having means for receiving a cap, means for operating theheads in alternation so that one head is held stationary at an intervalof movement of the other head, and means for feeding caps mountedmovable back and forth and arranged whereby it is brought alternatelyinto and out of cooperative relation with the cap receiving means of theheads when same are held stationary.

JOHN J. GAYNOR.

